Spring-wheel.



L. SANDERS.

SPRING WHEEL.

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1,040,426. Patented 00b. 8, 1912.

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SPRING WHEEL.

APPL IGATION FILED FEB.10, 1912.

1,040,426. Patented 0013.8,1912.

2 BHEETSSHEET-2. E321- L o'ais Sanders wi immzo LOUIS SANDERS, 0F CRAVENS, LOUISIANA.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

Application filed February 10, 1912. Serial No. 676,764.

- a Wheel.

Another and more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of a plurality of series of coiled springs radially arranged between the inner wall of the hub and the axle, and means whereby the mtroduction and proper positioning of the coiled springs therebetween is facilitated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a spring wheel which is simple and durable in construction and may be inexpensively manufactured, and whereby the usual pneumatic tread may be dispensed with without sacrificing the resiliency of thev wheel.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in whieh Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a wheel hub constructed in accordance with my invention showing the same mounted upon the vehicle axle; Fi 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 0 Fig. 1 showing the holding bolts for the axle thimhle mounted in the wheel hub; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary interior elevation of the wheel hub with the greater number of the cushioning springs removed; and Fig. 4.- is an elevation of the axle thimble.

Referring in detail to the drawings 5 designates a, vehicle hub to which the inner ends of the radiating wheel spokes are socured. in the usual manner. The hub 5 is hollow or of annular form in cross section and is mounted upon the end of the vehicle axle 4. This axle is provided with the usual. spindle 8 on which the sleeve orathimble 9 is loosely mounted. The hub 5 is normally held in spaced concentric relation to the axle thimble by means of a plurality of series of coiled springs 10.

The inner wall of the vehicle hub is provided with spaced longitudinal channels or grooves 11 which are open at the opposite ends of said hub. These channels or grooves are provided with the undercut or beveled side walls 12 and said channels gradually decrease in width or taper from their outer to their inner ends. The periphery f the thimble 9 is also provided with longitudinal grooves or channels 13 which correspond in number to the channels in the wall of the hub, said channels 13 tapering in a similar manner to the channels 11 from the enter to the innerends of the thimble. The grooves or channels 13 in the thimble are also providcd with the undercut side walls 14.

It will be observed from reference to Fig. 2 that the coiled springs 10 gradually increase in. diameter from their intermediate ortions to their ends, and the outer and inner end co ls of the springs in the respective series also vary slightly in diameter, the end coils of the springs in the outer end portion of the hub being of greater diameter than those in the inner portion thereof. In arranging the springs within the hub, the springs of each series are inserted in proper order so that as the ends of the springs are forced into the'inner and narrower ends of the grooves or channels 11 and 13 of the hub and axle thimble respectively, they will bind against the undercut walls of said channels and be securely held in their proper positions against either radial or longitudinal movement with respect to the hub and thimble. The wheel is of course, removed from the vehicle axle in order to arrange the springs within the same, and I have provided the screw bolts 15 which are threaded in the walls of the hub and are radially disposed to bind at their inner ends against opposite sides of the axle thimble. These holding bolts are arranged adjacent to the opposite ends of the hub and after the springs have been inserted are adapted to be removed, and the openings in the wall of the hub closed by means of suitable threaded plugs as will be readily understood. In this manner it will be seen that after the inner circular series of springs have been inserted into the inner ends of the grooves or channels in the hub and thimble, the opposed bolts 15 in the inand mud entering between the hub and the axlethimble and interfering with the'proper action of the coiled springs.v A similar plate 17 is also arranged upon theouter end of the axle spindle and closesthe outer end of the hub. A nut 18 is threaded'upon the end of the axle spindle and a washer plate 19- the wheel in perfect repair at' an insignifi- "cant expense.

While I is also secured thereon with which the inner face of the plate 17 engages. The

wheel hub is 'free to rotate between the-plates to the'other of the hub an 16 and 17 at the opposite ends thereof.

From the foregoing it is believed that; the construction of my improvedv spring wheel and the manner of assembling the various parts will be readily understood.

It will be obvious that any desired numberv of series of the springs ma be arranged: between the hub and the ax e thimble and that the strength of'said springs will vary in accordance with the characterof .the ve-;.

. hide and the load carried thereby to which? I a plurality of longitudinally oppose grooves, said grooves in thehub'and thim- I ble being correspondingly gradually revduced in width fromthe outer to the inner the wheels are applied. g

A wheel constructed in accordance with? my invention is extremely durable and 'efii-; cient in practical use and provides'a maxi-- mum of resiliency whereby vibration of thet vehicle body is greatly minimized. Wheni the springs become broken, they maybe} easily and quickly removed and replacedf by others, thus rendering it possible to keepf have shown and described the? preferred construction and-arrangement of; the various parts, ,it will be obvious that the' invention is susceptible of considerable modification without departing from the 68-9 sential features or sacrificing any of the, advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention what;

is claimed is i 1. In a spring wheel, a hub, an axlethim-i hub an a v same from the wider toward the narrower relation to the wall thereof, said thimble being provided with aplurality of longitudinally extending grooves gradually tapering from one end of the thimble, to the other, and a plurality of series of radially extending cushioning springs, the coils of each series of springs differing in diameter,

' ble arranged within the hub and in spaced one of the end coils of said springs being adapted for movement in the grooves of the thimble from the wider into the narrower ends of said grooves to bind against'the side walls of the grooves, the other ends of said springs bearing against the inner wall of the wheel hub,

- 2. In a spring wheel, a hub, an axle thim-- ble arranged within the hub and aced from the wall thereof, said hub and thimble being provided in their opposed surfaces of the hub and thimble respectively for binding engagement with the side walls thereo 3. In a spring ble arranged within the hub in spaced re lation thereto, said hub and thimble havin ends there'ofand having undercut side walls,

an the intermediate coils U and adapted to be fitted within the grooves wheel, a hub,-an axle thimand a plurality of series of radially disposed cushioning springs having end coi and ada ted to engage in the grooves of the thimble and be moved into the s of greater diameter than the intermediate coils ends of said grooves and into binding en-.

gagement with the undercut side walls thereof. 1

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signaturein the presence of two witnesses.

' LOUIS SANDERS. i; a 

